YearToAvoid

2020 Tesla Model 3 Lane Departure Problems

NHTSA lists 35 Lane Departure complaints for the 2020 Tesla Model 3, about 8% of that year's 451 complaints. Three crashes and two injuries were reported, with a median mileage at failure of 8,500 miles. No related recalls are listed for this specific complaint set.

Lane Departure complaints
35
8% of 451
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
8,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical lane departure system symptoms owners report

  • Autopilot reportedly steered the car into an adjacent lane and struck another vehicle after being disengaged and re-engaged during a passing maneuver.
  • Lane departure warnings triggered during manual turn-signal lane changes even when no vehicle was detected in the blind spot.
  • Side repeater cameras used for blind-spot monitoring and automatic lane changes reportedly washed out at night from turn-signal light bleed, obscuring the view of adjacent lanes.
  • Owners report a known camera defect causing the blind-spot image to be blocked by glare, describing it as a manufacturing fault rather than a one-off issue.
  • One owner said a related recall, NHTSA Recall Number 21V-00D, had not been completed because Tesla could not supply repair parts despite multiple service appointments.

When 2020 Tesla Model 3 lane departure system complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 18, 2021, latest Jul 27, 2026.

2020 Tesla Model 3 lane departure complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2021May 2022Nov 2022Sep 2023Feb 2024Aug 2024Aug 2025Jul 2026
35 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2021 to Jul 2026; peak Nov 2022 (3).

Lane Departure recalls for the 2020 Tesla Model 3

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Lane Departure complaints by Model 3 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20174 (15%)
  2. 201851 (5%)
  3. 201970 (11%)
  4. 202035 (8%)
  5. 202132 (5%)
  6. 202244 (6%)
  7. 202327 (6%)
  8. 202415 (7%)
  9. 202518 (15%)

Frequently asked questions

How many Lane Departure complaints does NHTSA list for the 2020 Tesla Model 3?
NHTSA lists 35 Lane Departure complaints for the 2020 Model 3, which is 8% of the 451 total complaints filed for that model year.
Were there any crashes linked to Lane Departure issues on the 2020 Model 3?
Yes. NHTSA data shows 3 crashes and 2 injuries associated with this complaint area for the 2020 Model 3, with no fires reported.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Model 3 Lane Departure system?
The data provided lists no related recalls tied specifically to this Lane Departure complaint set, though one owner referenced recall number 21V-00D in a complaint narrative.
At what mileage do these Lane Departure problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue on the 2020 Model 3 is 8,500 miles.
How does the 2020 Model 3 compare to other years for Lane Departure complaints?
The 2020 model's 8% share is lower than the 2019 model's 11% and the 2025 model's 15%, but higher than the 2018 model's 5% and the 2021 model's 5%.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.